An inside look at the criminal justice system in action.

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) Citizens Academy is a free, one-day program of presentations and activities designed to educate members of the public about the unique role the MCAO plays in the criminal justice system. 

Participants will hear from prosecutors and subject matter experts during a series of presentations that provide an insider’s view of the nation’s third largest prosecutorial office.

The Citizens Academy has been recognized with a 2015 NACo Achievement Award!

At the award-winning MCAO Citizens Academy you will:

• Gain a better understanding of MCAO's role in the criminal justice system
• Learn how a case is submitted, reviewed, and charged
• Learn about MCAO's programs and services 
• View a crime scene reconstruction
• See how a cold case is investigated
• Decide how to charge a felony case
• Learn about crime prevention programs

Who should attend:

• Maricopa County residents interested in criminal justice
• Neighborhood watch and community groups
• Business and civic organizations
• Trade and professional associations
• Students and educators
• Elected officials and public service professionals

The MCAO Citizens Academy is held once a month from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A light breakfast and lunch are included for all participants. All participants must be 18 or over to attend.  

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the registration form below. Please be aware as part of our registration process and to ensure a safe and enjoyable event, we ask all participants to undergo a background screening.